Fire ripped through a flat that police say was being used a suspected cannabis farm in Newcastle.

At around 8.15am on Thursday, fire crews were called to Rothbury Terrace in Heaton and found flames leaping from the roof.

Around 20 firefighters in four engines and an aerial ladder platform worked to extinguish the blaze.

And once the fire was brought under control, bags of what looked like compost were being thrown from the roof space where the fire had started.

Two residents claim they have been smelling wafts of cannabis for some time as Northumbria Police confirmed it was a “suspected cannabis farm”.

The couple who have lived in the flat below for two-and-a-half-years, Shona Findey and Jonathan McGill, say they had their suspicions that the flat was being used as a cannabis factory.

Smoke coming from the roof space of a house in Heaton (Image: Daniel Lloyd Reed)

Shona, 32, claimed: “We could smell cannabis on various occasions. When the fire brigade extinguished the fire you could see them throwing out compost bags.

“Our belongings aren’t too bad but our flat has water damage and smoke damage, the fire damage was confined to the upstairs flat.”

Shona and Jonathan had managed to get out of their flat as neighbours congregated in the street.

“I left the flat and saw smoke coming from upstairs, I ran back in and told Jonny to get out,” added Shona. “We grabbed our cats and got out. A passer-by was asking if there wasn’t anyone else in.”

Jonathan, 29, said: “The fire brigade were here very quickly. Previously, we have smelt cannabis from the upstairs flat.

“This morning the neighbours were out giving us cups of tea, crumpets and toast.”

Shona Findley and Jonathan McGill who live downstairs to the flat on Rothbury Terrace where a fire broke out this morning

Neighbour Marianne Powmall, 31, said: “I woke up to loud banging on the window. I was terrified, I thought someone was breaking in. A neighbour was knocking, shouting I need to get out as there was a fire.

“I went outside and the flames were coming from the roof in the next door flat. The flames were about three metres high, I’ve never seen anything like it before.

“The fire bridge put out the fire and they even rescued a baby bird that was nesting on a nearby roof and put it somewhere safe.”

Occupiers of the upper flat next to the fire said: “The smoke was billowing from the roof next door. It is a semi-detached flat and we thought the fire was going into our loft.

Firefighters dealing with a house fire in Heaton (Image: Ross Johnson)

“We don’t know if it did reach our loft as we haven’t been allowed back in as yet. But we do know we have smoke and water damage.”

Two fire crews from Byker and one from Newcastle Central, Gateshead and Wallsend along with an aerial ladder platform attended the incident. The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the blaze.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “We were called at 8.17am and believe there was a suspected cannabis farm at the property.

“Inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made.”

Ian Bell, group manager with Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade, said: “We were called to reports of a fire in a loft involving a substance in the roof space.

“The police are now carrying out an investigation.

“We had four pumps and an aerial platform at the scene and NEDL has been out to make the electrics safe.”